Our Ingredients

At Nettle & Bone Apothecary, we don’t believe in compromising when it comes to self-care. As such, all of our formulations are created using only high-quality ingredients sourced directly from nature.

Carrier Oils

Jojoba Oil - Lightweight and quick-absorbing, Jojoba oil packs a powerful punch in skincare formulations. This golden oil is extracted from the desert Simmondsia chinensis plant and is actually a wax - not an oil - that mimics our skin’s sebum. Compatible with all skin types, Jojoba is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help to promote healthy skin while fighting against bacteria, environmental damage, and signs of aging.

Rosehip Seed Oil - Rosehip is considered a “dry” oil, meaning it soaks into the skin easily without leaving an overly greasy residue. This vibrant oil is rich in nutrients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin A, and essential fatty acids that help to assist with cell regeneration and promote collagen and elastin levels - making it a popular choice in formulations that cater to dry or mature skin types.

Castor Oil - Extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus Communis plant, castor oil is particularly popular in haircare formulations due to it’s ability to condition and strengthen. This thick oil comes jam-packed packed with nutrients such as Vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids - all of which can aid in promoting healthier, stronger hair.

Camellia Oil - Also referred to as Tea Seed oil, Camellia oil has been used cosmetically for centuries (particularly in Asia) due to it’s hydrating, rejuvenating, and age-defying benefits. This exquisite oil is packed with nutrients that are ideal for both skin and hair, and is often hailed as one of the cosmetic industry’s “best kept secrets”.

Hemp Seed Oil - Balancing, soothing, and clarifying, Hemp Seed Oil can be applied topically and is known to be a fantastic moisturizer! For haircare applications, Hemp is both strengthening and reviving, and contains properties that help to calm scalp irritation and condition hair strands. With a variety of scalp-loving nutrients, this powerful oil promotes hair health, luster, and growth.

Fats, Butters, & Waxes

Beef Tallow - Organic grass-fed and grass-finished beef tallow is packed with skin and hair-loving ingredients such as vitamins, fatty acids, and CLA. When applied topically, beef tallow is moisturizing, regenerative, protective, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory. 

Shea Butter - With cosmetic uses dating back to Ancient Egypt, Shea butter is notorious for its ability to moisturize, heal, and protect. Loaded with vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants, Shea butter helps to promote radiance and health for both skin and hair.

Beeswax - Packed with Vitamin A, beeswax helps to sooth, soften, and protect both skin and hair. Beeswax has long been used for it’s healing properties, and helps to provide a protective barrier while locking in moisture to prevent dehydration.

Lanolin - Also known as “wool oil” or “sheep grease”, Lanolin is a waxy substance derived from sheared sheep’s wool. Similar in function to human sebum, Lanolin is secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep to soften, moisturize, and protect. With its fantastic emollient, lubricating, and emulsifying properties, Lanolin has been used topically for millennia due to its ability to moisturize and soothe. For skin & hair applications, Lanolin aids in preventing moisture evaporation while also working to soften, protect, and heal.

Herbs & Flowers

Nettle Leaf - Rich in an array of vitamins and minerals (including iron, magnesium, and zinc), this versatile herb boasts a long list of benefits for both skin and hair health.

Calendula Flower - Gentle yet nourishing, Calendula is an excellent addition to formulations designed to heal, sooth, and hydrate.

Chamomile Flower - Since ancient times, Chamomile has been used in skincare and is known to be both softening and soothing to the skin.

Blue Lotus Flower - Also known as Egyptian lotus, this vibrant flower helps to boost skin radiance through its soothing, balancing, and moisturizing properties.

Hibiscus Flower - Popular for haircare and scalp health, this stunning flower offers a wide array of nutrients including vitamin C & antioxidants.

Rosemary - Long renowned for its uses in haircare, Rosemary can help to sooth irritation while promoting circulation to encourage hair growth and shine.

Horsetail Herb - Rich in antioxidants, silica, and selenium, this ancient plant provides properties that can help to boost hair health by strengthening hair strands, preventing breakage, and combating free radicals.

Hops Flower - A distant relative of stinging nettles and cannabis, Humulus Lupulus (also referred to as Hops) contains gentle nervine properties that help to propmote relaxation and sleep. Also known for its aromatic and bitter qualities, this herbaceous perennial has also been used for centuries to flavor beer due to it's unique taste profile.

Passionflower - Used as a magical charm to illicit harmony and bring peace, Passionflower is often utilized in tinctures, teas, and herbal infusions for its gentle calming properties. With its ability to calm the mind and sooth the spirit, this striking plant with intricate flowers helps to promote relaxation and may also help in coping with stress.

Lemon Balm - Melissa Officinalis (more commonly known as Lemon Balm) has long been used in body care and incorporated into teas due to its gentle nervine properties. With its use dating back to the ancient Romans and Greeks, this heart-shaped herbs has long been revered and loved for its ability to calm, heal, and uplift.

Butterfly Pea - Rich in antioxidants and striking in color, this unique flower is often touted for its ability to support general wellness and healthy skin. Due to a high concentration of anthocyanins (water pigments found in plants) in its petels, Butterfly Pea can also be used as a natural dye for food, beverages, soaps, and cosmetics. When combined with liquid, the dried flowers yeild a vibrant blue color that turns to royal purple when introduced to acidity.

Lavender - Relaxing and healing, Lavender is famous for its scent and therapeutic properties. It promotes a sense of calm and tranquility, and its ability to both soothe and cleanse make it favorite for skincare applications.

Catnip - Perhaps most notoriously known for its stimulating effect on felines, Nepeta cataria (or Catnip) is a member of the mint family that has long been used in folk medicine as a calming agent for humans. As a natural nervine, Catnip offers gentle calming properties that are often helpful in cases of sleeplessness or digestive distress. This herb is naturally anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, making it additionally useful in external applications for both skin and hair.

Marshmallow Root - Althaea officinalis (or Marshmallow) is a mucilage-heavy herbaceous perennial that has been used for centuries both internally and externally. With its high mucilage content, this natural demulcent is notorious for its ability to soothe, soften, and moisturize. In haircare applications, Marshmallow Root offers anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe the scalp and prevent dandruff, while also nourishing and strengthening hair strands with an extra boost of hydration.

Frankincense Resin (Boswellia carterii) - With a centuries-old history steeped in spirituality & ceremony, Frankincense continues to stake its claim as one of nature’s most valuable offerings. It’s a popular agent in both skincare & aromatics, with properties that are cleansing, soothing, and deeply grounding. Unlike the essential oil, the resin of Frankincense contains Boswellic acids that are renowned for their ability to fight inflammation & promote healing.

Myrrh Resin (Commiphora myrrha) - Ruled astrologically by the Moon, Myrrh has a long history of use in rituals and spiritual ceremonies. Throughout time it’s been revered as a precious commodity (historically valued equal to gold), with known benefits that are both medicinal and aromatic in nature. Today, Myrrh remains a popular agent in incense and perfumes, skincare, extracts, and oral care.

Essential Oils

Frankincense Frereana - Hailed for its skin rejuvenating properties, Frankincense Frereana can help to smooth and diminish the appearance of scars, fine lines and wrinkles. Frankincense is also known for its healing properties, and can assist in repairing dry and/or damaged skin.

Frankincense Serrata - Known for its clearing, healing, and soothing properties, Frankinsense Serrata can help to improve skin elasticity when applied topically. Its earthy aroma can help to support clearer breathing, and this species of Frankincense is also known to support relief of aching joints and muscles.

Copaiba Oleoresin - When applied topically, this versitile essential oil helps to tighten and even out skin tone while also reducing the appearance of blemishes. It's rejuvenating and calming, with an intoxicatingly sweet yet woody aroma. With its antibacterial and antifungal properties, Copaiba can also help to heal and prevent the appearance of pimples and skin irritations.

Myrrh - Derived from the gummy resin of the Commiphora Myrrha tree, this valuable essential oil has been used for centuries due to its internal and external benefits. When used topically, Myrrh works as a powerful antioxidant that sooths and maintains healthy skin while facilitating the reduction of unwanted blemishes.

Helichrysum Italicum - Only grown in a few areas around the world, Helichrysum Italicum is sometimes also referred to as the "Immortal" or "Everlasting" flower due to its skin restorative and rejuvenating properties. This skincare superhero helps to promote a healthy glow by repairing skin cells and reducing the appearance of blemishes, scars, and wrinkles.

Lavender - Arguably one of the most popular and well-known essential oils, Lavender comes with a long list of therapeutic benefits, including a lovely floral-herbaceous aroma that promotes a sense of calm and tranquility. When applied topically, Lavender helps to support healthy skin with its soothing and healing properties.

Egyptian Geranium - Fresh, sweet, and herbaceous, Egyptian Geranium is both balancing and gentle on the skin. It has astringent, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties that help to promote a clear, toned, and healthy complextion.

Rose Absolute - Renowned for it's beauty benefits, Rose contains antioxidant and antibacterial properties that can promote skin renewal and collagen production. Rose is also anti-inflammatory, which can help to sooth the skin and prevent redness.

Ylang Ylang - Often used in fragrence oils due to its intoxicating scent, Ylang Ylang has antioxidant properties that help to prevent signs of aging by assisting in the repair of damage to the skin's proteins and lipids. It's also sebum-balancing (making it great for all skin types) and encourages the promotion of skin renewal and elasticity.

Juniper Berry - Perhaps best known for its use in the creation of the alchoholic beverage Gin, Juniper Berry provides a list of unique benefits for skincare applications. It's both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory (making it a great choice for troubled or acne-prone skin), and contains a wide range of antioxidants that help to protect and promote skin health. In addition, Juniper Berry may aid in the reduction of cellulite due to its ability to promote blood circulation when applied topically.

Black Pepper - With its beautifully complex and spicy aroma, Black Pepper is packed with beneficial properties that can help to improve the look and feel of your skin. It's rich in antioxidants that help protect your skin from free radical damage, and it also contains properties that are both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Black Pepper is also naturally warming and can help to improve blood circulation, while also improving the tone and texture of your skin due to its ability to brighten and exfoliate.

Rosemary - Stimulating and refreshing, Rosemary essential oil offers healing, sebum-balancing, and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to improve skin tone and texture, while also reducing skin irritations such as puffiness and/or swelling often associated with breakouts and cystic acne. For haircare applications, Rosemary Essential Oil is also reputed to aid in supporting hair growth by promoting a healthy scalp. Additionally, its woody herbaceous aroma has been shown to boost mental clarity and focus.

Clary Sage - Nicknamed "The Woman's Oil" due to is benefits for women's health, Clary Sage also exhibits a wide range of uses for both skin and hair. When applied to the scalp, this versitile oil is known to stimulate hair growth and promote healthier, stronger strands while also preventing dandruff. It also boasts the ability to calm nerves and ease stress, while promoting a calming atmosphere with its earthy, floral aroma.

Bergamot - Delightfully refreshing and uplifting, Bergamot is a citrus oil that aids in improving the appearance and health of your skin and hair. For haircare applications, it works to encourage luster and radiance, while also preventing scalp irritation and itchiness. For skin, Bergamot helps to promote a healthy and clear complextion thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. It is a fantastic choice for oily and acne-prone skin due to its ability to reduce swelling and shrink the appearance of pimples.

Cedarwood Atlas - Restorative and grounding, Cedarwood Atlas is well known for its ability to promote shine and softness while preventing hair loss. In addition to stimulating hair growth, this rich woodsy oil works to sooth scalp dryness and irritation.

Peppermint - Fresh and minty, Peppermint essential oil provides a cooling sensation that is both invigorating and soothing. It offers relief for dry and irritated skin, and it may also help to control the production of excess oil that can lead to future breakouts. Known for its stimulating properties, Peppermint can also help to enhance hair health by improving bloodflow to the scalp. This helps to stimulate the hair follicles and may help to promote improved hair growth over time.

Sweet Orange - This delightfully uplifting citrus oil helps to brighten and reduce dullness when applied topically.

Tea Tree - Powerful yet gentle, Tea Tree is considered one of the best essential oils for treating acne-prone skin. As a natural antiseptic, it offers both soothing and purifying properties that aid in calming irritated skin and controlling breakouts. Additionally, this fresh and medicinal oil works to balance excess oil production while drying out pimple-causing bacteria, which helps to promote a clear and smooth complexion.

May Chang - Also known as Litsea Cubeba or Mountain Pepper, May Chang is a bright & zesty oil often used to cleanse impurities and relax the mind. It also contains natural astringent, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to promote a clear complexion while also calming skin irritations.

Oregano - With its natural cleansing properties, Oregano works to fight and prevent bacteria that can cause acne breakouts. It offers a warm and herbaceous scent, along with strong anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties that can help to promote healthy and blemish-free skin.

Roman Chamomile - With its sweet apple-like aroma, Roman Chamomile is notorious for its ability to promote comfort and relaxation. It sooths the mind as well as the body, helping to ease feelings of stress or discomfort.

Additional Ingredients

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - Crisp and versatile, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) boasts a wide range of both internal and external benefits. For haircare applications, ACV helps to reduce symptoms of alkalinity (such as dullness, brittleness, and/or frizzy strands) and offers a rich source of vitamins and minerals that help to nourish and fortify. When properly diluted, an ACV rinse can aid in boosting hair shine, strength and managability, while also acting as a clarifying agent to remove buildup and boost natural hair growth.

Magnesium - One of the six essential macro-minerals, Magnesiumn plays a crucial role in supporting numorous biochemical reactions throughout the body. Along with supporting heart, bone, muscle, and nerve health, this mineral has been shown to have numerous theraputic effects for treating a host of conditions. When applied topically, Magnesium is easily absorbed by the skin and helps to promote better sleep, soothe achy muscles, and alleviate anxiety.